Adult Degree Completion Program

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Cohort?

A cohort is a group of 15 to 20 adult students who complete the Adult Degree Completion Program curriculum as a unit. Students enjoy the collaborative learning and mutual support that takes place within the cohort. They also enjoy the lasting relationships that develop.

How many times a week will I attend class?

Classes meet one night from 6-10 p.m.or one morning from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. per week. Cohorts meet on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday. In addition, during Cultural Perspectives there is are two sessions during one weekend.

How is it possible to complete my degree so quickly?

The Adult Degree Completion Program builds on the college-level work already completed. Students need a minimum of 60 semester hours of college credit or an accredited nursing diploma program/RN licensure (45 s.h.) to begin the program. Forty-three semester hours will be earned through the nursing major curriculum. In addition, a student must be working or volunteering as a nurse at least ten hours weekly in order to fulfill the practical part of their education.

To graduate from Eastern Mennonite University in the Adult Degree Completion Program, students must earn 124 semester hours. The additional semester hours may be generated by taking additional courses or by documenting college-level learning in a portfolio. Additional courses may be taken at EMU or other institutions (with prior approval) before students begin the curriculum, while enrolled, or after they complete the curriculum.

An assessment counselor works with students to assist them with their individualized academic plan. This one-on-one academic advising is one of the reasons EMU has been so successful with graduation rates.

Do classes meet year-round?

Yes. Our program is a non-traditional program which means that we hold classes year-round. Breaks are built in and include a three-week semester break, as well as a two week break for the Christmas holidays. Groups receive the major federal holidays off if their classes are held on that day.

If I haven’t taken a college class in years, can I be successful in this program?

Yes! The Adult Degree Completion Program is designed for adult learners. Classes are discussion-oriented, drawing from practical work experience. The only “test” in the program is the evaluation after Health Assessment. Our program depends on writing; students write papers applying what they have learned. They are not required to memorize information for examinations. All students participate in a writing lab during the first weeks of the program that helps prepare students for the writing portion of the program. As students progress through the program, their writing continues to show marked improvement.

How much homework is there?

The homework may take about 10-15 hours to complete per week. This includes assignments of reading, researching and writing.

Are all the students Mennonites?

No. Only about 8 percent of the students enrolled in the Adult Degree Completion Program are Mennonites. The program was designed to be an outreach from the university to the community. Students come from a wide variety of religious heritages and backgrounds. Since EMU is a Christian liberal arts college, students are required to take one religion course, “Biblical Perspectives,” and one course in ethics, “Issues and Values.”

What qualifications do I need to be admitted to the Adult Degree Completion Program?

Students need a minimum of 60 semester hours (s.h.) of college credit or an accredited nursing diploma program/RN licensure (45 s.h.) to begin the program. They must also have a grade point average of at least a 2.0. Because the classes are discussion-oriented, students are encouraged to have work experience or significant volunteer experience as a nurse. The work environment also provides a place in which students can practice what they are learning in the classroom. Because the curriculum is writing intensive, successful completion of a writing sample is required of all applicants. EMU does not have a selective admissions policy for the Adult Degree Completion Program. We do, however, have a rolling admissions policy which means that the first 18-20 qualified applicants for a particular cohort group will comprise that group.

What is the cost of the Adult Degree Completion Program?

The total cost of the nursing program (including 43 semester hours, books and fees), is $15,977. The cost per credit is $345. If students want to earn credit from their life experience, they will pay an additional $50 per semester hour of petitioned credit.

May I qualify for Financial Aid?

Yes! A few of our students will qualify for Pell Grants; some will qualify for Subsidized Stafford Loans; and everyone will qualify for Unsubsidized Stafford Loans (as long as they are not in default on a student loan). You must complete a FAFSA to qualify for a Stafford loan. Our school code is 003708 and you should use the main campus address for these (EMU, 1200 Park Road, Harrisonburg, VA). Our students are working adults, so scholarship money is limited. Students in the adult degree completion program are considered to be half time students, so student loans are available. The loans are low interest and have a ten-year payback period. We also work closely with those employers who provide employee assistance. Matching funds are available for church or civic grants up to $1,000 total. In addition Lancaster students may apply for a need-based grant up to $5,000, after completing their FAFSA, awarded in the second semester.

How do I begin?

Please contact our office to receive application materials for the Bachelor of Science degree in nursing. For the Lancaster program, you may call (717) 397-5190 or email .

What is EMU’s Accreditation?

Because our main campus is located in Virginia, the University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. This is equivalent to the Middle States Accreditation, which is the accrediting agency for schools located in Pennsylvania. The Lancaster extension program is licensed by the PA State Board of Education for undergraduate, graduate and seminary programs. Our degrees are recognized and accepted for admission into graduate schools.

EMU’s nursing program received initial accreditation from the National League of Nursing in 1970, but in 2004 the program received full accreditation from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, the accrediting body of the American Association of Colleges and Nursing (One Dupont Circle, NW, Suite 530, Washington, D.C., 202-887-6791). The nursing program is also approved by the Virginia State Board of Nursing.